Written by

Tina Marie Macias
tmacias@theadvertiser.com

Florists around Lafayette were diligently perfecting Valentine's Day arrangements Wednesday, but locals have been slow to switch from the decadent Mardi Gras spirit to a romantic mindset.

"Today we are not as busy as we were last year the day before Valentine's Day," said Tina Guidroz, a manager at Flowers & More by Dean on Ridge Road, "but I think that's because of Mardi Gras. I think we're going to get slammed in the morning, but it's been steady all day long,"

An estimated $18.6 billion nationwide will be spent on Valentine's Day gifts this year, with a third being spent on flowers, according ...